414. Thirsty? Quenching Service

As the night gradually faded, Liu Erlong's story lingered on, set in every detail of Heaven Dou City.

To her, every scene and every word remained vivid.

These were the moments she dreamt of nightly, memories she couldn't and wouldn't forget.

Despite speaking for so long, she showed no signs of fatigue, fully immersed in her recollection. At times, she smiled; at other moments, she pouted and murmured, her body and mind seeming to return to those days.

Qian Renjue caressed her gently, quietly listening to every word.

His movements grew even softer as he occasionally provided a “quenching service”—not with water, but with lips and kisses, filled with tenderness and compassion.

The constant flush on Liu Erlong’s face never faded, and her complexion appeared much healthier.

Had Qian Renjue not silenced her endless recounting of Heaven Dou City’s events with a long kiss at dawn, she might have continued narrating without pause.

When the sky brightened, and the first light of day emerged, Liu Erlong finally fell into a deep sleep, nestled in Qian Renjue's embrace.

Her breathing was steady, and her expression serene.

Qian Renjue gently brushed away the strands of hair framing her beautiful face, his eyes filled with tenderness as he gazed at her quietly.

As morning arrived, the cold light of dawn illuminated the room.

A dark, swirling vortex appeared, extending long, black tendrils from under the covers.

Qian Renjue disappeared silently, leaving behind a soft whisper:

“Don’t worry, Erlong. I’ll remember.”

“…”

His voice faded.

Liu Erlong’s long lashes fluttered. Her delicate hand reached out, touching the now-empty pillow beside her.

Her dark, radiant eyes slowly opened, filled with confusion.

Why did Ah Jue call her "Erlong" and not "Dean Liu"? Was it just to comfort her?

But why was there a trace of pain in Ah Jue’s gaze?

Liu Erlong bit her red lips softly, hugging the quilt that still carried his warmth. She inhaled its lingering scent, her eyes glimmering with determination and tenderness.

No matter the reason—whether comfort or pity—being by Ah Jue's side was enough for her.

She had waited so long.

As long as there was a chance to hold onto him, it was worth it.


---

Spirit City

Under the soft light of dawn, the newly erected Angel God statue in the central square exuded a sense of divine purity.

Qian Renjue returned directly to the courtyard.

The moment his feet touched the ground, a graceful figure darted out of the house, seemingly flustered in a way that was hard to describe.

“Your Highness, you’re back.”

Ling Yuan stood straight before Qian Renjue. Her neat, short hair swayed in the morning breeze, revealing a faint blush hidden beneath.

Her tall and curvaceous figure radiated strength and femininity.

“Mm, Sister Ling Yuan.”

Qian Renjue nodded slightly as he stepped forward, his voice soft:

“Where is my mom?”

“Her Majesty the Pope is at the Spirit Hall. Nana and Xie Yue have gone to train,” Ling Yuan replied with a bow.

Then, with a shy expression, she hesitantly extended her hand to take his arm.

“Sister Ling Yuan, I’ve told you—it’s not your fault.”

Qian Renjue chuckled and shook his head, reaching out to clasp her delicate hand.

“Mm~”

Ling Yuan’s face turned red, but her eyes sparkled with joy.

Smiling sweetly, she intertwined their fingers, pressing his arm lightly against her soft curves.

“Your Highness, how is Dean Liu?”

“She’s fine, no serious problems.”

Qian Renjue thought of the system’s intermittent notifications from the night before and couldn’t help but smile.

There shouldn’t be any more issues now.

“That’s good to hear.” Ling Yuan let out a relieved sigh.


Ling Yuan finally calmed down. She made a mental note to apologize to Liu Erlong when given the chance.

As if recalling something, her face turned rosy.

“Your Highness, have you had breakfast yet?”

“Not yet. I'll eat after washing up,” Qian Renjue replied, stifling a yawn as he led Ling Yuan toward his room.

“Then allow me to assist you, Your Highness.”

“There’s no need; I can manage on my own.”

“In that case, I’ll prepare the breakfast Nana left for you.”

“That would be great. Thank you, Sister Ling Yuan.”


---

Inside the house.

In the dining area, Ling Yuan sat at the table, staring at the steaming breakfast. Holding a cup of hot tea, her expression was unusually serious.

How should I bring this up? she thought. Should I just ask if His Highness wants something warm to eat?

No, he’ll definitely refuse!

Ling Yuan bit her lip as she gazed at the steaming tea in her hands, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Click! Footsteps grew closer.

Ling Yuan snapped out of her thoughts, nervously brushing her hair to cover her reddened face.

“Sister Ling Yuan, have you eaten yet?”

Qian Renjue, now dressed in fresh clothes, calmly sat down across from her.

“Yes, I already ate with Nana earlier,” Ling Yuan nodded, avoiding eye contact and nervously biting her lip.

“Is that so? How about having another meal with me?” Qian Renjue asked with a smile as he served himself a bowl of soft, silky tofu pudding.

This particular dish was Nana’s creation—its complex preparation meant it wasn’t something they had often.

“No… no need,” Ling Yuan replied, her face turning even redder as she glanced at the creamy tofu pudding, her expression becoming more awkward.

“Sister Ling Yuan, is something wrong?”

Qian Renjue put down his bowl, looking at her with concern.

“Huh? No, I’m fine! It’s just… a little hot,” Ling Yuan stammered. “I’ll just… drink something cold, yes! Something cold will be fine!”

As she spoke, her tone grew more determined. She quickly offered her steaming cup of tea to Qian Renjue, her eyes filled with bashful anticipation.

“Your Highness, could you… help me cool it down? Just a little?”

“Cold tea in the morning?” Qian Renjue gave her a strange look but, considering Ling Yuan’s Titled Douluo physique, decided not to question it further.

Extending a hand emanating a frosty chill, he brushed it over the cup’s surface, instantly freezing the tea.

Retracting his hand, he reminded her, “If it’s too cold, you can reheat it yourself.”

“Understood,” Ling Yuan nodded, holding the chilled tea in her hands, her heart finally at ease.

She bit her lip lightly, licking the corner of her mouth as she gazed at the tea.

I’d better test the temperature first. I can’t let His Highness get a chill.

Under Qian Renjue’s puzzled gaze, Ling Yuan, looking like she was steeling herself for battle, lifted the cup of iced tea and poured it all into her mouth in one go.

Clink! The sound of ice cubes clashing echoed.

With her head tilted back and her mouth slightly open, wisps of cold air escaped her lips.

Qian Renjue rolled his eyes and stopped paying attention, returning his focus to the silky tofu pudding.

Meanwhile, Ling Yuan adjusted her breathing, lips now closed. After ensuring the ice had melted to a manageable temperature, she looked at Qian Renjue, cheeks puffed and face flushed with embarrassment.

Quietly, she slipped away from the table.

“Huh?”

Qian Renjue raised his gaze, eyebrows furrowing in confusion. “Sister Ling Yuan, is it really that hot? It’s not any cooler over there.”

But then, his expression changed as a sudden chill seemed to emanate from somewhere above him.

His purple eyes widened slightly.

“Sister Ling Yuan, what are you—? Hiss—!”

Before he could react, a cold burst enveloped him, causing his body to shiver uncontrollably.

The frosty aura surrounded him completely, leaving him momentarily frozen in place.